All species
resident
Least ConcernWoodpeckers
Great Spotted Woodpecker
The most common woodpecker in the United Kingdom, often betrayed by its loud drumming on tree trunks in spring. It visits peanut feeders in colder months.
Dendrocopos major
Woodland Parks Large gardens
Size
22-23 cm
Wingspan
34-39 cm
Weight
70-90 g
Lifespan
5 years
Diet
Insects and larvae extracted from bark; seeds and nuts in winter, plus nestlings of other birds.
Song & Call
A sharp 'kik' call and rapid drumming on resonant wood.
Tap play to listen0:00
Speed
Visualizer
Recording by Benoît Van Hecke · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
How to identify
- Black and white barred back
- Red patch under tail
- White shoulder patches
Conservation
Least Concern
Increasing in gardens and urban green spaces.
